Progeria is an extremely rare condition. Nonetheless, it is also one that has garnered a good deal of media attention, due to the extraordinary physical symptoms of the disease. As rare as this disease actually is, it’s still one that should be taken very seriously. The symptoms are severe, and the life expectancy rate for those who have this condition can vary to a certain degree.
Because of those extraordinary physical symptoms, a number of people deal with misinformation concerning the particulars of Progeria. This thought can certainly be extended to the life expectancy of those who suffer from it.
Progeria And Life Expectancy
Here are some definitive facts and figures concerning Progeria:
1. Progeria is also known as Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome.
2. This disease is extremely rare.
3. Progeria is considered to be a progressive, genetic disorder.
4. Children who suffer from Progeria typically appear normal at the time of their birth.
5. It is during the first year of a child’s life that symptoms such as slowed growth and losing hair will begin to arise.
6. Additional symptoms of Progeria can include a narrowed face, prominent eyes combined with incomplete eyelid closure, veins that are distinctly visible, a speaking voice that is very high in pitch, skin that looks thin, spotted, and wrinkled, and much more.
7. A wide array of health issues can also occur in those who suffer from Progeria. Weak bones, stiffened joints, a biological opposition to insulin, rapid progression of cardiovascular disease, skin along the trunk/extremities that is prone to become hardened and tightened are possible.
8. There is currently no cure for Progeria.
9. Ongoing research indicates a number of promising options for treatment.
A great deal of media attention has been given to certain individuals suffering from Progeria. This is again due to the fact that a person suffering from this condition can appear to be extremely old (while suffering from many of the ailments that afflict those in their advanced years) while actually being quite young in their real age.
Given the wide assortment of symptoms, and because treatment of the disease is rather difficult, the life expectancy of those who have a Progeria diagnosis is not particularly encouraging. Most individuals who suffer from Progeria do not make it past their eighteenth birthday. However, with the limited treatment options available, it is possible for someone who has Progeria to live to be as old as thirty years of age.
With the research currently being conducted into this condition, the life expectancy will hopefully improve.
